During the Cold War, the Strategic Air Command (SAC) 95th Bombardment Wing performed strategic bombardment training with Convair B-36 Peacemaker and later Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers. It operated to support SAC's global commitments from April 1954 until SAC's phaseout of operations at Biggs Air Force Base, Texas in 1966. The wing was activated later that year as the 95th Strategic Wing at Goose Air Base, Canada to replace the 4082d Strategic Wing. At Goose, it supported forward deployed SAC tankers. It was inactivated in 1976 as the Air Force withdrew from Goose Air Base.[6]
In 1984, the 95th group and wing were consolidated into a single unit. The consolidated unit was redesignated the 95th Air Base Wing and was activated in 1994 as the host organization at Edwards, absorbing the mission, personnel and equipment of the inactivating 650th Air Base Wing.
The group arrived in England equipped with late model B-17F aircraft equipped with "Tokyo Tanks", additional fuel cells located outboard in the wings that gave this model additional range.[11] It flew its first combat mission on 13 May 1943 against an airfield near Saint-Omer, France. For the next two months the 95th focused on attacking airfields and V-1 flying bomb launch sites in France.[1]
Eighth Air Force's early experience with its Martin B-26 Marauders convinced it that the Marauders were stationed too far from the continent of Europe to reach a selection of targets.[12] It determined to move them closer to the target areas, and an exchange of bases began. The entire 95th group moved to RAF Horham in June, where they replaced the 323d Bombardment Group, which departed the previous day.[1][13] A few days later their place at Framlingham was taken by the newly arrived 390th Bombardment Group.[1][14]
The 95th began strategic bombing operations in July and continued until flying its last operation on 20 April 1945. Its targets included harbors, marshalling yards and other industrial targets along with attacks on cities. On 13 June 1943 the group was leading the 4th Bombardment Wing in an attack on Kiel, Germany. The lead aircraft carried Brigadier General Nathan B. Forrest as an observer. The aircraft was hit by fighters on its approach to the target, and again after the bomb run was complete. It was last seen spiraling out of control with much of its tail shot away. General Forrest was the first United States general officer killed in action in Europe during the war.[15]
The group received its first Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) during an attack on an aircraft factory at Regensburg, Germany on 17 August 1943 when it maintained its defensive formation despite severe attacks by enemy interceptor aircraft.[1] On 10 October, during an attack on marshalling yards at Münster, Germany, the squadron was subjected to concentrated fighter attacks on the approach to the target and intense flak over the objective.[1] Despite these obstacles, the group's bombs were clustered close to the target.[16] It was awarded a second DUC for withstanding these attacks to bomb its objective.
334th squadron B-17 under attack by German fighters
From 20 to 25 February 1944 the group participated in the Big Week offensive against the German aircraft manufacturing industry. A few days later, on 4 March, the squadron attacked Berlin despite adverse weather that led other units to either abandon the operation or attack secondary targets. Despite snowstorms and heavy cloud cover, the unit struck its target while under attack from enemy fighters,[1] although the cloud cover required the group to rely on a pathfinder from the 482d Bombardment Group to determine the release point.[17] It received its third DUC for this operation.[1] This mission was the first time any unit from Eighth Air Force had bombed Berlin.[5]
The group was diverted to bombing priority tactical targets during the preparation for and execution of Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy in June 1944, attacking communications and coastal defenses. It hit enemy troop concentrations to facilitate the Allied breakout at Saint-Lô. The 95th attacked enemy troop concentrations during the Battle of the Bulge from December 1944 to January 1945 and bombed airfields to support Operation Varsity, the airborne assault across the Rhine in March.[1]
One of the unit's more unusual missions was flown on 18 September 1944, when it led the 13th Combat Bombardment Wing[18] to Warsaw to drop ammunition, food and medical supplies to Polish Resistance forces fighting against German occupation forces.[1] The group landed in the Soviet Union, as it had previously done during shuttle missions to the Soviet Union.[19]
The unit flew its last mission on 20 April 1945, when it attacked marshalling yards near Oranienburg.[20] During its time with Eighth Air Force the 95th flew 320 missions, losing 157 aircraft, but claiming the destruction of 425 German fighters.[5]
In the first week of May, it airdropped food to Dutch citizens in Operation Chow Hound. During the final Chow Hound mission on 7 May one of the group's aircraft had an engine catch fire. The pilot decided to ditch the aircraft when the fire threatened to engulf the entire plane, but hit a swell, causing the aircraft to break up almost at once.[20] This was the last operational loss suffered by Eighth Air Force in World War II.[5] From V-E Day until departing the theater in June, the 95th transported liberated prisoners of war and displaced persons.[1] The air echelon flew their planes back to Bradley Field, Connecticut, while the ground echelon sailed once more on the Queen Elizabeth.[5] The squadron was reunited at Sioux Falls Army Airfield, South Dakota, where it was inactivated on 28 August 1945.[1]
The 95th Bombardment Wing was established on 4 June 1952, and activated on 16 June 1952 at Biggs Air Force Base, Texas.[note 5] However, because it was not manned, it was not assigned to the Eighth Air Force's 810th Air Division until July 1953, and then minimally manned until September 1953, when it began strategic bombardment training with Convair B-36 Peacemakers.[3] It operated in support of Strategic Air Command (SAC)'s global commitments from April 1954 until February 1966.
Former 95th Bomb Wing Convair B-36J Peacemaker at the Pima Air Museum
On 12 February 1959, the last B-36J in SAC's inventory departed the wing and Biggs for Amon Carter Field, in Fort Worth, Texas, where it became a display aircraft.[22]
In the late 1950s, SAC established Strategic Wings to disperse its B-52s over a larger number of bases, thus making it more difficult for the Soviet Union to knock out the entire fleet with a surprise first strike.[23] As part of this program, the wing's 335th Bombardment Squadron moved to Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas on 15 January 1959, where it was assigned to the 4130th Strategic Wing.[8] The 336th Bombardment Squadron moved to Turner Air Force Base, Georgia in July and was assigned to the 4138th Strategic Wing there.[9] The 334th Bombardment Squadron remained at Biggs with the 95th Bomb Wing.[7][3]
Starting in 1960, one-third of the wing's aircraft were maintained on fifteen-minute alert, fully fueled, armed and ready for combat to reduce vulnerability to a Soviet missile strike. This was increased to half the squadron's aircraft in 1962.[24] The 95th continued to maintain an alert commitment until shortly before inactivation on 25 June 1966 with the transfer of Biggs to the United States Army.[7][3] Its commitment included periodic airborne alert as part of Operation Chrome Dome.[25]
On 7 April 1961, one of the wing's B-52Bs was participating in an air intercept training mission with a pair of North American F-100 Super Sabres from the 188th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron of the New Mexico Air National Guard. For the exercise the fighters were armed with GAR-8 Sidewinder missiles, which were wired so that only the heat seeking head of the missile was operational. On the sixth pass by the fighters, a Sidewinder launched and struck one of the engine pods on the bomber's left wing. Four on board the B-52 escaped by parachute, but three crewmembers died in the crash. The misfire was blamed on moisture in the connection of the missile to the F-100.[26]
Tanker Operations at Goose Air Base
Patch with 4082d Strategic Wing emblem
Goose Air Base
In August 1966 the wing was redesignated as the 95th Strategic Wing and moved to Goose Air Base, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, where it replaced the 4082d Strategic Wing. The 4082d was organized by SAC on 1 April 1957 as a Major Command controlled (MAJCON) wing[note 6] and assigned to the 45th Air Division[27] when SAC took over Goose from Northeast Air Command. The 4082d controlled forward deployed bombers and tankers. As the host USAF organization for Goose Bay it was assigned the 4082d Air Base Group (later 4082d Combat Support Group) and the 4082d USAF Hospital.[note 7]
In order to retain the lineage of its MAJCON 4-digit combat units and to perpetuate the lineage of many currently inactive bombardment units with illustrious World War II records, Headquarters SAC received authority from Headquarters USAF to discontinue its MAJCON strategic wings and to activate Air Force Controlled (AFCON) units, which could carry a lineage and history.[note 8] The 95th Wing supported SAC's KC-135 alert tanker forces in eastern Canada and the North Atlantic.[3] The wing also provided logistic support for northern radar sites in Canada.[28] In June 1974 the wing was awarded an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for fighting a forest fire which threatened to spread to the station's fuel storage tanks.[29]
Goose Air Base was transferred to the Canadian Department of National Defense as CFB Goose Bay. The Government of Canada had previously shared responsibility for the operation of the airport with the United States Air Force.[30] In 1975 the Canadian government informed the United States that the Air Force's lease on Goose Bay Airport would not be renewed when it expired on 30 June 1976.[31] The wing phased down for inactivation, closing most USAF operations at Goose AFB between January and September 1976.[3]
Base Support at Edwards Air Force Base
The wing was reactivated as the 95th Air Base Wing on 1 October 1994, when it replaced the 650th Air Base Wing as the host unit for Edwards Air Force Base, California.[32] It was responsible for operating Edwards, including the infrastructure, communication systems, security, fire protection, transportation, supply, finance, contracting, legal services, personnel and manpower support, housing, education, chapel and quality of life programs on a 301,000-acre (1,220 km2) base in the middle of the Mojave Desert, the second largest base in the USAF.[33]
The wing oversaw base day-to-day operations and provided support for over 12,000 military, federal civilian and contract personnel.[33] Approximately 1500 Air Base Wing personnel directly supported the flight test and evaluation mission of the Air Force Flight Test Center and the 412th Test Wing. The wing was inactivated on 13 July 2012 and its mission transferred to elements of the 412th wing, primarily to the 412th Mission Support Group.[34] The wing's last commander was Col. Amy V. Arwood, who commanded the wing for its last two weeks.[33]
Lineage
95th Bombardment Group
Constituted as the 95th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 January 1942
Activated on 15 June 1942
Redesignated 95th Bombardment Group, Heavy on 20 August 1943
Inactivated on 28 August 1945
Redesignated 95th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy on 13 May 1947
Activated in the reserve on 29 May 1947
Inactivated on 27 June 1949
Consolidated on 31 January 1984 with the 95th Strategic Wing as the 95th Strategic Wing[2]
95th Air Base Wing
Constituted as the 95th Bombardment Wing, Medium on 4 June 1952
Activated on 16 June 1952
Redesignated 95th Bombardment Wing, Heavy on 8 November 1952
Discontinued and inactivated on 25 June 1966
Redesignated 95th Strategic Wing on 8 August 1966
Activated on 8 August 1966 (not organized)
Organized on 2 August 1966
Inactivated on 30 September 1976
Consolidated on 31 January 1984 with the 95th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy
Redesignated 95 Air Base Wing on 16 September 1994
95th Civil Engineer Group: 1 October 1994 – 15 June 2002[36]
95th Combat Support Group (later 95th Support Group, Mission Support Group): 1 January 1959 – 25 June 1966, 2 October 1966 – 30 September 1976, 1 October 1994 – 13 July 2012[37]
95th Communications Group: 6 July 2005 – 30 June 2010[38]
95th Medical Group (later 95th Tactical Hospital, 95th Medical Group): 16 June 1952 – 1 January 1959, 1 October 1994 – 13 July 2012
828th Medical Group, 1 January 1959 – 25 June 1966
868th Medical Group (later USAF Hospital, Goose), 2 October 1966 – 30 September 1976
Squadrons
Operational Squadrons
334th Bombardment Squadron: 15 June 1942 – 28 August 1945; 29 May 1947 – 27 June 1949; 16 June 1952 – 25 June 1966
335th Bombardment Squadron: 15 June 1942 – 28 August 1945; 17 July 1947 – 27 June 1949; 16 June 1952 – 15 January 1959
336th Bombardment Squadron: 15 June 1942 – 28 August 1945; 16 July 1947 – 27 June 1949; 16 June 1952 – 1 July 1959
412th Bombardment Squadron: 15 June 1942 – 28 August 1945; 16 July 1947 – 27 June 1949
917th Air Refueling Squadron: 1 May 1959 – 15 January 1965[35]
Support Squadrons
35th Munitions Maintenance Squadron, 1 July 1960 – 25 June 1966[39]
95th Armament and Electronics Maintenance Squadron, 16 June 1952 – 25 June 1966[40]
95th Comptroller Squadron: 23 January 2007 – 13 July 2012
95th Field Maintenance Squadron (later 95th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron), 16 June 1952 – 25 June 1966, 2 October 1966 – 30 June 1971[40]
95th Periodic Maintenance Squadron (later 95th Organizational Maintenance Squadron), 16 June 1952 – 25 June 1966[40]
95th Supply Squadron: 1 October 1961 – 1 July 1963
^Boeing B-17G 43-38283 in the foreground was initially assigned to the 334th Bombardment Squadron. It later transferred to the 336th squadron. It crashed at Neustadt, Germany after suffering mechanical failure on 17 March 1945
^Although the 95th Wing was newly activated, it continued, through temporary bestowal, the history, and honors of the World War II 95th Bombardment Group. This temporary bestowal ended in January 1984, when the wing and group were consolidated into a single unit.
^Under the USAF organization and lineage system MAJCON units' lineages (histories, awards, and battle honors) ended with their discontinuance and could never be revived. Ravenstein, Guide to Air Force Lineage and Honors, p. 12
^On 1 April 1959 the 868th Medical Group replaced the hospital
^The 95th Wing was entitled to retain the honors (but not the history or lineage) of the 4082d.
Freeman, Roger A. (1970). The Mighty Eighth: Units, Men and Machines (A History of the US 8th Army Air Force). London, England, UK: Macdonald and Company. ISBN978-0-87938-638-2.
Knaack, Marcelle Size (1988). Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems. Vol. 2, Post-World War II Bombers 1945–1973. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-912799-59-5.
Watkins, Robert (2008). Battle Colors: Insignia and Markings of the Eighth Air Force in World War II. Vol. I (VIII) Bomber Command. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing Ltd. p. 4. ISBN978-0-7643-1987-7.
Further reading
Andrews, Paul M. (1990). Operational Record of the 95th Bomb Group World War II. Bellevue, WA: 95th Bomb Group (H) Association.
United States
United States Air Force
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